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Posted: 5/1/2008 4:15:43 AM | I too have been accused of having my own grocery store! lol
As a kid, the oldest of 8, sometimes food was scarce. Maybe the reason I store so much is because of the way I grew up? I buy lots of things on sale. As someone else said here, I am always able to help others who need a hand sometimes. Lately, this has been my 19 year old Son, who has moved out to be what he calls "independant"! | |
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Posted: 5/1/2008 4:58:26 AM | My mother was this way all of her life. She grew up in the depression and actually had my dad build special shelving in the basement. She could buy 100 bottles of pop (pretty much all they drank) at rock bottom sale prices and put them in the basement racks. Coke rack instead of wine rack.
She died and my father didn't have to buy laundry soap for 2 years. She had enough stockpiled. I don't think she ever bought anything full price. My kids tease me now as with the freezer and the pantry I'm always buying groceries cheap and putting them away. But I once read about how people play the stock market and often are happy when they get a 10% return or so, but if you play the stock piling game you can often get 50% or over on your investment. A really great way to lower every day costs.
It does take some planning and I've heard people who haven't got much money will say they can't do it. But really if you can get started it can make all the difference in getting your grocery dollars to go far. And I also have been in the position of being able to just go in the pantry and pull a few items together for a friend in need. I once put together the stuff for a chicken dinner for a friend who came home to spend time with his mom for her birthday. Neither had money for a decent dinner and it would have been rahmen noodles. It feels pretty good to just say, "Here, you can pay me back when you can, if you can. Treat your mom on her day." | |
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Posted: 5/1/2008 5:53:51 AM | If push came to shove, then I would eat as Browning described.
My college major was political science with one of my minors being military science.
The two weeks of survival training has really came in handy.
I realize freezing is better than canning but if things got bad then there would be "brown outs", "black outs" or gone, for who knows how long.
In the last 90's, we had an ice storm and no electricity for about 10 days, starting around 2 days before Christmas.
We had to stand in long lines for kerosene.
Stores were sold out of containers, so everyday with the standing in line.
I cooked Christmas dinner on the largest kerosene heater.
Then kept it warm with sterno.
Sterno is great for family gatherings, especially when it's a cook-out.
Christmas Eve is mom's birthday and I fed 27 people.....it was funny, they all thought it would be cold cuts.
I'd made the pies a few days before and froze them, thank goodness.
The now ex, ran around like henny penny and whined about not being able to shower..
He wasn't happy with the "bird bath" method of bathing.
I did heat the water......he will be one of those wildebeest that don't make it in an emergency. lol
It's important not to open frigs/freezers too much.
You have to get in there and get out fast because every time it's opened, the less time the food will be frozen.
I have my coolers that I use camping.......5 fairly large ones and a couple of small ones.
Since the temp was in single numbers, before things started to thaw, I put them in the coolers, right out side the kitchen door.
But that would depend upon where a person lives and what wild animals are in that area.
Drinks, I wrapped in old towels and placed them in the truck.
Ice cream, I put in a bag, in case it thaws.
And what was left in the freezer, I cooked first.
Being prepared for the worse and having the situation be less than worse........makes it like a walk in the park.
I have cast iron skillets and 2 dutch ovens (use them for chili around Halloween), along with a tripod.
I kept the old grates from a couple of old grills; for make shift outdoor cooking.
No electricity, run out of propane.........then a fire pit with a grate over it.
And the dutch oven on the tripod, over an open fire.
BBQ grill and smoker.....not propane ones.
Fishing poles and tackle. It under 2 miles to the lake.
I also have a fireplace and plenty of firewood.
And a chainsaw to cut more........and a few hand saws.
And several hand crank lanterns and flashlights.
Oh, and a hand crank radio.
Batteries have several years of shelf life...I use and replenish.
I sealed baby wipes with the food saver.......and have some of those "baths in a bag", in case water is scarce.
Tooth brushes and small tubes of tooth paste...sealed.
 No electricity and things running amok, but I'll be clean.
I have all these things sealed because I enjoy camping and it takes less time to pack up and get ready to camp.
Sealed, loose, popcorn and different types of beans.
My grand kids love campfire popcorn.
I also have marshmallows, which look strange, in sealed bags.
Since I put away my winter clothing and blankets in those large totes (also great for camping).......all I have to do is drag them out.
As far as storing them......I arrange them in one , or more, of the bedrooms with a throw or decorative flat sheets with little decorative pillows I made from colorful clothing......... then they've changed from totes to pieces of furniture.
I have a low table in one bedroom...the legs are 5 gallon plastic containers (red lids) and the top is plexiglass. That's 20 gallons of storage space.
If things do run amok, not saying they will, but a person needs to be able to defend themselves.
Shot gun, rifle and hand guns...plenty of ammo.
In this county there are about 300 people for every deputy.....can't wait like a damsel in distress, hoping I will be the first call they take.
Besides the fact, in an emergency now, it takes about 15/20 minutes for them to arrive.
I have no problem sharing and would gladly do so.
The problem starts with someone trying to take........Charity and good will stops.
Lock and load.
Run out of ammo, rifles make great bats.
And snares and divots (my dachshund loves to dig) are great for guarding an area.......
Besides, I throw a mean rock.......
ceeceekitty | |
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Posted: 5/1/2008 6:31:10 AM | | Some really great tips here. I live in Florida where we have to deal with hurricanes, someone else mentioned losing power after an ice storm. Bottom line, these are great tips whether we have a food shortage or not. I'm ready to try some of these ideas. Hurricane season is almost here again. | |
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Posted: 5/2/2008 6:11:39 AM | I cant imagine why a person would NOT stockpile, other than a lack of space. Hurricanes, blizzards, power outages... during 9/11 my employer shut the doors for an entire week. I just lost an entire weeks of wages. My stockpile supply made all the difference trying to get my bills paid that following month.
If you have the space... 3 months AT LEAST. What if you lose your job tomorrow? | |
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Posted: 7/11/2008 6:16:48 PM | Stock piling dry and canned goods for what? How is that planning for the future? Are you talking about post apocalyptic necessities? What other reason would you need to stockpile? Profit?
What a strange question.
If you're stockpiling for an apocalypse, forget the tranisitional goods (rice, beans, etc.) and go straight for seed stock and small plants. You'll need a frying pan (aluminum or cast iron; cast iron breaks easy but lasts longer) and utensils, tools. Weapons and ammunition: I personally suggest at least one automatic handgun, a rifle, and a crossbow. Medicines are a good idea, even though you won't be able to replace them once used. A book on herbs and edible berries and nuts; perhaps basic blacksmithing. Oh, yeah, fishing tackle, lines, hooks, sinkers, etc. and of course a good knife. Flint and a sharpening stone are good ideas. If you know how to render soap from animal fat and lime you'll be ahead of the game.
If you're talking about for profit, try honey. They honey bees are dying off and the stuff just might get as expensive as safron.
If you're just talking about tough times, I'd go with rice. Lots of it before the price goes up and limits go down. Rice and cheerios. | |
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Posted: 7/11/2008 7:59:41 PM | | you can buy milk and butter and bacon that does not need refrigeration, tho the shelf life is about a yearthe milk comes in a box, most grocery stores carry it, the butter and bacon come in cans | |
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Posted: 7/12/2008 3:29:42 PM | I wonder what Global crisis the Globe and Mail were referring to.
My mother grew up as a child in the Netherlands, when the Germans occupied the city. She learned to save and stockpile. She still does and i've got that darn bug as well. Which is why I try to cook a lot, to get rid of the food and feed all my friends.
I wonder what crisis the article was referring too. There have been lands taken over by terrorism in Lebanon and Gaza, and there is a pile of trash floating out in the Ocean twice the size of Texas. But what else is there?
Unless Iran gets the Bomb. If that happens, you will see it detonate in Israel and all hell will break loose. In which case, my stuffed pantry will come in handy.
Let's hope Iran see's reason, just like North Korea.
We can only hope...
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Posted: 9/23/2008 1:03:45 PM | note to self: (buy more beer) | |
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Posted: 9/23/2008 9:56:22 PM | | For emergency cooking I would not rely on propane. I have 3 Coleman stoves with a few spare parts. The fuel comes in 1 gallon metal containers from Walmart. They will even burn hot enough to can on. Canned a marlin on the beach in Mexico! | |
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Posted: 9/23/2008 10:32:05 PM | Re: message 56. Oh my goodness. He or she is no longer on POF but I will respond to a couple of things that stand out in that message anyway.
Part of the message is logical and makes sense, but part of it misses a major point. People who think you buy honey for profit because the bees are dying do not get the real issue with bees. The big issue with the bees dying isn't the lack of honey. It's the lack of pollination capability. True plants can be pollinated by hand, but can you imagine hand pollinating even a small home garden by hand? Now imagine the thousands of acres it takes to grow all the food we eat. Holy cow.
As to it being a strange question and this question:”What other reason would you need to stockpile? Profit?”. The answer to both is a resounding “NO!”
It’s a really good question. Neither profit nor post apocalyptic preparedness are why you would prepare or as some are calling it stockpiling. I suppose your own personal view of the world, your own mental approach to it, is what determines if you are stockpiling or being prepared. It’s being able to take care of your own needs instead of having to go stand in a line with your hand out when you lose your job, get sick, or have other disruptions to your normal life (or the life of someone you live. Things are a bit unpredictable these days). Sure there are catastrophes that can happen and you won’t be able to care for yourself in spite of preparations, but there are many, many times in life when a little preparedness goes a long way to helping you feel secure in bad times. In tough times, food becomes a comfort and you need to have on hand things that will be satisfying and not just what you “need”, so I disagree with s/he said, what did s/he say…rice and cheerios? Nah Store what you and your family like to eat, not doomsday foods.
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Posted: 9/23/2008 10:45:25 PM | If you live on an island with lots of other people, you learn soon enough about shipping strikes, so I got used to "stockpiling". I had about a 3 month supply of everything. Freezer and fridge were also kept pretty full, but most things were canned or dry.
Friends also used to kid me about my "general store". The prior poster was also correct about using a Coleman liquid fuel stove rather than propane. It lasts a lot longer.
When Hurricane Iwa hit Hawaii, people went into a panic and raided the store shelves clean. Didn't matter what it was, they bought it all up. Glad I did my shopping months beforehand. I don't think I even went to a store in the week following the hurricane.
The only "panic" I experienced was in deciding if I should fry my chicken or boil it.
I'll be building another stockpile here as soon as possible. About all I have at the moment are Datrex packs. Pretty much lemon-flavored shortbread. But very compact - all you need is those and water. The first page of the thread had some excellent lists. Especially the oatmeal man's.
Almost forgot! The naysayers of the thread...We had naysayers prior to the hurricane, too. They may have had a can of tuna in the cupboard and a half bottle of wine in the fridge. Once the hurricane hit, all the restaurants without power and the stores emptied, they were the first ones crying and wringing hands over how they'd survive a mere week. I did feed my couple of naysaying friends.
Live and learn, I guess.
TIP: If you have empty space in your freezer, place washed 2-liter bottles of clean drinking water in them. In an emergency they can be used to keep the freezer and fridge cold, or as cooler ice. As they melt, they can then be used as drinking water. | |
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Posted: 9/24/2008 12:30:02 PM | | hey everybody,just wanted to say don't forget about your pets if you are stock piling, also have a first aid kit | |
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Posted: 9/27/2008 6:28:27 AM | | As far as emergency cooking.... do a google search on Solar Ovens or Solar Cookers. They actually heat hot enough to create safe drinking water. | |
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Posted: 10/1/2008 7:12:40 AM | | The easyst way is just to buy extra of what u use just date it so u can keep rotating the older stuff out i like the Stock up stores like Save A Lot and others like it watch the sale flyers for the leaders to get u in the store I do beleave lean times r a comin!!! | |
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Posted: 10/8/2008 7:52:47 AM | | The way the stock market is goin people better stock up while they can mite get bad soon! | |
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Posted: 10/13/2008 4:07:40 AM | My son and future daughter in law just moved into a rural rental home. Surrounded by cornfields, and plenty of mice are destroying their food supply. Those nice store bought canisters are great for pasta and rice, but pricey.
Frugal idea... take empty 2 liter soda bottles or 1/2 gal milk jugs. Wash and dry completely. They are perfect for storing flour, sugar, bread crumbs, pancake mix, etc. Also keeps the bugs out!!! Just remember to buy a funnel in the kitchen dept.
I keep a barrel of empty containers in the basement, for those moments when someone is being plagued with pest problems.
Boxed goods... such as mac n cheese... so you have 10 boxes of Mac n Cheese, and you want to prevent critter/pest problems... put each serving of pasta in ziploc sandwich bags. Place the 10 sandwich bags of pasta and the 10 envelopes of cheese mix in a plastic ice cream container (with snap on lid). Not only are you protecting it from critter problems, it's actually a space saver. | |
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Posted: 10/13/2008 8:38:58 AM | I live on a boat and most of the foods I buy are shelf stable and moisture proof. Oatmeal, canned meats, soups, dried beans, rice, hot chocolate/coffee and many other items may get boring but they last a long time and fish are easily caught. Ziplock bags come in handy and a seal-a-meal type food saver is next on the list.
I already have a shelter that's paid for and can't be repossessed or foreclosed on!! :)
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Posted: 10/13/2008 9:03:37 AM | | A quick note for springazure44.. please be aware that mice will chew/eat through plastic. When I was living on a farm, it was difficult to keep mice at bay, and they would chew right through tupperware. It is much better to store food items in jars. | |
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Posted: 10/13/2008 1:50:24 PM | I decided to add a few things here.
I was one of the naysayers on the firtst page, basically, I was asking what exactly brought this thread to be. I didn't really get an answer, which is why I felt this is just a panick thread. I don't like panick threads or news.
One thing I know for sure is that there are few shortages in the world. News of shortages are mostly political propaganda to create fear, panick and achieve their own agenda on the financial and political stage. So they can gain, or keep control. People with money have all of their investments in the items that the public can be swayed on.
However, I am also very aware that a true shortage can really happen in a relatively short amount of time, in fact quickly. Again, this will usually be global propaganda, because a shortage in one spot does not create a world shortage. Even so, with the weather, economics, loss of the middle class, increasing global catastophies, major population centers being totally detached from farming, or access to open land (except for the dependence on them for food), and reversion of the mass population to a more war-like mentality...I feel that world-wide chaos and disaster leading to a need to be prepared for anything is increasing. It is not out of the realm of possibility.
With that said.......If that situation were to happen, a few months of food isn't going to do much for you in the whole scheme of things. We would see power run-amuck. There would be no stopping it. After the Depression we got Hitler, think 1000 times worse. And if yu think the Depression was localized to the US only, think again. And yes, crazed dictators rising to power after economic catastrophe is a likely scenario, not a one time quirk.
One thing my ex-father-in-law did was to make us all buy large sections of land (I believe a section is about 360 acres, I am sure someone here can correct me) in the middle of nowhere. On this land we built underground bunkers that he made sure were equipped with some kind of filtration system so that we wouldn't be poisoned by chemical warfare. These bunkers were quite elaborate for many months, even years, of living and were all connected with shafts to nowhere, as well. We had storage rooms for all kinds of things and also workshops for making ammo, which he taught us. We all did what he asked because in his quirkiness, he was quite sweet and there were many good and logical perks to his quirks. Since he knew how to do all of this stuff and taught us and we did it ourselves, it didn't cost us much. I am sure to this very day there are things left down there. I think only he may still return to it, but he is now too old to do anything down there. He had done this in Alaska too, right after WWII.
Well, now we see all that has happened since this thread was first posted. Still, I do believe it is all a political ploy, but the price increases are real and I am sure they won't go back down, but stockpiling a few months of food isn't going to help the situation, or me.
The only person I see in really good shape here, besides being prepared for chemical warfare, is ceeceekitty. Smart woman. | |
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Posted: 1/8/2009 7:52:09 AM | I've been stockpiling for years. It has been a way of life for me. Just the natural way of doing things. My folks grew up during the depression era. Recycling and reusing have also been a way of life. A vacuum sealer and any type jar that has the soft seal around the rim (mayonnaise, peanut butter) are great for things that don't have to be actually canned.
The only thing I'd be upset to do without is water. So, I have three wells and am putting together some hand pumps for the "just in case." | |
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